Ben Affleck's love damage

The 'Pearl Harbor' star conceded his high-profile two-year romance with the singer-and-actress - who he starred with in the widely panned 2003 movie 'Gigli' while they were engaged - turned him into one halfof the celebrity couple dubbed 'Bennifer' rather than a credible actor.

He told Details magazine: "It was probably bad for my career. What happens in this sort of bleed-over from the tabloids across your movie work. I ended up in an unfortunate crosshair position where I was in a relationship and the media mostly lied and inflated a bunch of salacious stuff for the sake of selling magazines. And I paid a certain price for that."

The 35-year-old actor - who is now happily married to actress Jennifer Garner, the mother of his 22-month-old Violet - says his priorities have changed now he is a father and husband.

He added: "I'd be surprised if I am still living in Los Angeles in a couple years. Professionally it would be difficult. But that's not as important as the other thing."

The actor also revealed he is nervous about what critics will make of his directorial debut 'Gone Baby Gone'.

He said: "I feel like 'Gone Baby Gone' is a linchpin for my life. My career. I have a lot riding on it. I want it to work. Badly. I mean, a s**t movie comes out on 2,800 screens? I've been there and it's embarrassing."